Amusement novelty or theatrical device.



PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908.

, P. W. SCHMIDT. AMUSEMENT. NOVELTY OR THEATRIGAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1906.

suve'ntoz THE NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMUSEMENT NOVELTY OR THEATRICAL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters fatent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1908.

Application filed October 9, 1906. Serial No. 338,143.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. SCHMIDT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re siding in the city and county of Philadelphia, State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Amusement Novelty orTheatrical Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful display device and consists ofmeans for supporting co-acting elements whereby a design of some kind isconstructed or results,

and may be used in connection with scenic effects, amusement devices andfor exhibition and advertising purposes.

In the drawings I have shown a display device which is normally held inthe horizontal or substantially horizontal position and to which areattached in any suitable manner, material or objects which when thedevice is raised or elevated to a vertical or substantially verticalposition, will form, jointly, a single object. In this drawing I haveshown theobject as the American flag and have supported suitable piecesof material on the frame in such a manner that as before stated, whenelevated, they will simulate the American fl-ag, although it will beapparent that other objects or pictures may be formed and that othermaterials or objects may be employed and attached to the frame, and I donot, therefore, desire to be limited to the construction as herein shownand described, but wish to make such changes as will come within thescope of the claims.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the display device. Fig. 2represents a front elevation in a different position from that shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a portion of the device in detached position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings :1 designates the base or support for thedevice, which in the present instance consists of standards and movablymounted in said standards are the rods 2 which can be raised or loweredtherein and may be held in said raised or lowered position by anysuitable means. In the present instance I have shown a set screw 3.Pivotally connected with the rods 2 is the frame 4 which can be of wireor other suitable material and which has members such as the cross rodsor bars 5 which extend from side to side and may be of any de sirednumber.

6 designates, in the present instance, pieces of material which aremovably attached to the frame 4 and cross rods 5 inany desired andconvenient manner, in the present case they being adapted to straddlethe frame 4 and rods 5, whereby they are supported and prevented fromimproper displacement, while being easily manipulated in the building upof a design.

9 designates wires which are connected with the frame, in the presentinstance at the corners thereof, and which extend upwardly in order thatthe same can be attached to any suitable or convenient point for holdingthe frame 4 in the position seen in Fig. 1, that is to say insubstantially a horizontal position. As will be evident when the partsare in this position seen in Fig. 1, substantially only the front row ofthe material will be seen from the front, the others in the rear beinghidden thereby, but when, in the present instance, the rearmost wires 9are loosened and the front wires 9 are drawn up, the frame will becaused to assume a vertical or substantially vertical position and thematerials which are movably mounted will be caused to assume the properposition, so that the same will appear in the position seen in Fig. 2. Asecond frame 10 may beemployed upon which are attached the stars 11 andwhich can be lowered to be situated in front of or resting against theunion blue, as will be seen.

It will be evident that other materials or objects may be attached tothe frame to form different completed pictures and that the device canbe used in connection with amusement devices or theatrical effects bychanging the materials or objects connected cause said objects ormaterials to form different completed pictures and its use for eX-hibition and advertising devices will be evident.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a frame comprising end andside members, rods connected between said end 'members, means forshifting the position of the frame between the horizontal and verticaland maintaining it in any intermediate position,

with the frame and raising the same to and loose coverings for said rodscooperatingto form a picture thereon in the positions of said frameapproaching the vertical position and to show the single Width of saidloose coverings only in the horizontal posi tion.

.2. A supporting device consisting ofv a marginal frame and memberscarried thereby and movable objects adapted to straddle said members,and to be freely supported thereby said. objects having thereon portionsof designs adapted When the objects are systematically arranged, to formtogether in some positions of the frame a Well defined design.

3. In a device of the character described, a frame composed of aplurality of members, means carrying said frame adapting it to be placedin horizontal or vertical position, and removable objects having designsthereon, swingingly supported on said members so as in some position ofthe frame to form' together a Well defined design.

4. In a device of the character described, standards adjustable inheight, a frame pivoted to said standards comprising end members securedthereto, and. side members, rods secured between said end membersparallel to said side members, and removable coverings for said rodsforming portions of a picture in some positions of the frame.

FREDERICK W. SCHMIDT.

